The OTA Flash Forum, a special interest group addressing the technical and operational issues facing over-the-air (OTA) management of mobile devices, today announced the addition of several new members, including DAT Group, Nextel, SavaJe Technologies, Sicap, SIPTECH, SmartTrust and Wireless Services Corp.

OTA Flash Forum (OTAFF) chairman Gene Wang credits the group's momentum to widely growing interest by mobile operators to deploy device management technologies, such as FOTA (firmware over the air), client provisioning, remote diagnostics and mobile security. In addition to its own open forum meetings, OTAFF is reaching out to other industry organizations to promote a deeper understanding of device management issues. Wang will be presenting a session entitled "The Advantages of FOTA for Mobile Security" at a security-focused Technology Forum, hosted by the CDMA Development Group this May.

"OTAFF membership has doubled in the past 6 months, with participation growing across a broad spectrum of wireless service and technology providers," said Gene Wang, CEO of Bitfone and chairman of the OTA Flash Forum. "Although originally fueled by bug-fixing, FOTA is an enabler for a variety of device management and service enhancement opportunities for operators, and we're excited to see so many companies interested in its application and commercialization."

The next OTA Flash Forum meeting will be hosted by WDSGlobal on May 4-5, 2005, in Seattle, Washington. Agenda topics include OMA DM Gap Analysis on Diagnostics, Mobile Security, Client Interoperability Testing and Methods, and the Value of Web Services to Deploy FOTA. To register for the meeting, send email to: ota-flash-forum@bitfone.com. Non-member companies are welcome to attend as "observers".